DRESDEN SCHOOL BOARD
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2006
7:00 P.M., HANOVER HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY
Minutes
Present: Board members Asmus, Bruce, Carpenter, Chamberlin, Cheney, Fleischer, Gray, Pilchman, Sachsse, Williams; Council Representative, Proom; Administrators Gersen, Aubin, Brush, Finer; Gillespie. 25 members of the public attended. Recorded by R. Lohr
1. Call to order
Chair Cheney called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. Hanover High School Presentation
The Dresden Board met in Room 243 for a presentation by French teacher, Jean Vigneault, who demonstrated the use of the new audio-visual technology in the classroom, which the teachers view as an exciting aspect of the high school renovation. She suggested that the Board take the steps needed to ensure that teachers receive the necessary training to use the technology.
The Dresden Board meeting reconvened in the Hanover High School Library.
3. Eye-to-Eye Partnership Presentation
Patti Dodds, Richmond School Special Educator gave a presentation about the Eye-to-Eye collaborative program with Dartmouth College. The art-based after-school activity is led by college student mentors with learning disabilities who work with eighth grade students in an effort to help them succeed despite their learning disabilities.
4. Approval of Minutes
A motion was made by Chip Fleischer and seconded by John Chamberlin to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of September 26, and the nonpublic session of September 26, as submitted. The motion passed unanimously.
5. Public Input
There was no public input.
6. Communications and Reports
a) Chair Report
The chair, Margaret Cheney announced that the next Dresden School Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 28, 7:00 p.m. at the Hanover High School library.
7. Agenda Change – Business Requiring Discussion
Superintendent Gersen reviewed the process and timeline for hiring a new Richmond School principal. Board members discussed using a consultant, expressing concern about the staff administering the effort to replace three key positions simultaneously. They supported the incorporation of public roundtables into the search process and also supported having six representative staff from RMS on the interview committee, three of whom will be voting members, but all of whom will function as equal participants. The 12-person search committee will also have two board members, two parents, a community representative, and the superintendent.
Superintendent Gersen distributed a document outlining the committee opportunities for Board members, which included three search committees. Board members supported limiting participation on search committees to two board members. Dr. Gersen reviewed the magnitude of the time commitment for the search committees. Board members were asked to email their interest in serving on various committees to Dr. Gersen by Friday, October 27. He indicated that transaction ads would be run to solicit search committee participants from the community. Susan Finer was asked to incorporate these community volunteer opportunities in her next public email communication.
8. Communications and Reports
b) Council Representative Report
Student Council Representative Zoe Proom reported that the council discussed moving the activity period later in the school day and shortening Wednesday’s fourth period, which is the longest class of the week. A winter extravaganza is planned for a week in February and school wide activities are being considered.
c) Assistant Superintendent Report
Assistant Superintendent John Aubin distributed and reviewed financial documents that covered the first quarter of the 2006-07 fiscal year. He discussed some of the larger budget variances and reported that the food service at both schools is expected tobreak even. He will continue to communicate with the state of Vermont regarding reimbursement for more of the fields project expenditures.
d) Facilities Director Report
Facilities Director Jonathan Brush reported that the lighting poles for the Hanover High School athletic fields were installed and that retaining walls were under construction. The fields projects are on budget including the contingency portion of the budget. The District obtained the Act 250 winter permit necessary to work on the Norwich fields in the coming weeks. On the facilities front, Jonathan Brush announced that the Science department’s move to the high school wing is scheduled for November 8-9. Other classrooms will be moved into the wing later in November. Mr. Brush announced that the modular units are available for sale and that interested parties should contact John Aubin or Jonathan Brush at the SAU office.
e) Principals Reports
Principal Gillespie reported that the high school had a successful open house for parents. She also announced that the Quiz Bowl team will play in the state championship next week. The Principal will provide an annual report on student advance placement performance for the next board meeting similar to the one issued by Gene Kadish in earlier years, as well as the annual report from the Dean of Students on class sizes and enrollment distribution. Ms. Gillespie reported that her current enrollment is 730 students.
Principal Finer commented that students at the Richmond School have been taking the NECAP tests for two weeks and the school will begin budget meetings this Friday. In response to a Board member’s comment about the weight of backpacks, Ms. Finer reiterated her ideas of purchasing an extra set of books for each class to alleviate the physical rigors associated with heavy student backpacks or having more students use backpacks with rollers.
f) Committee Reports
Committee on Instruction – Mary Sachsse reported that this Committee will meet to discuss the Dresden budget in the coming week.
Budget Committee – Kari Asmus reported that this Committee met with representatives of the Finance Committee to discuss five year planning, special education, and providing information to the public about upcoming financial issues. She announced that Cheryl Lindberg is the new Chairperson of the Dresden Finance Committee.
9. Business Requiring Discussion
Enrollment Projections
The Superintendent reviewed a document about enrollment. He noted that the dip in Middle School enrollment will be short lived, indicating the present fourth grade enrollment bulge will influence Richmond Middle School for three years beginning in 2008-09.
10. Business Requiring Action
Assistant Superintendent John Aubin reviewed the Tentative Agreement between the Hanover and Dresden School Districts and the Hanover Education Association. The agreement expands the link of performance to compensation to teachers on the top step. The contract also provides for a base salary increase of 1.5% for FY 07 retroactively, and 3% increase for FY 08. “Step” increases will also be given in each of the two years. The medical insurance provider and plan can be changed by mutual agreement. The Board contribution for health insurance will be limited to 80% of the HMO insurance premium. Additional cost for more expensive plans chosen by the employee will be borne by the employees. The contract also calls for study committees to examine alternative compensation methods and the evaluation process. These committees are deemed part of the ongoing contract negotiations and as such will be nonpublic, but there will be some public components to the committee work. Staff development funding will increase from $100,000 to $125,000 per year for the Dresden and Hanover School Districts combined. It is expected that the contract will not influence the Vermont per pupil spending limit as the projected statewide average increase is over 6 percent. The residents in the school district must approve the contract in the March budget vote. The Dresden Board expressed its appreciation and gratitude to all those who participation in the negotiations.
A motion was made by John Chamberlin and seconded by Larry Pilchman to approve the two (2) year (2006-07 and 2007-08) collective bargaining agreement between the Dresden School Board and the Hanover Education Association, NEA-NH, as proposed and attached to the original meeting minutes. The motion passed unanimously.
The Superintendent nominated Kay Litten as a .2 ESL teacher.
A motion was made by Mary Sachsse and seconded by Larry Pilchman to elect Kay Litten as a .2 ESL teacher at track 3, step 13, salary $12,204.20 (20% of $61,021), for the 2006-2007 school year. The motion passed unanimously.
A motion was made by Mary Sachsse and seconded by Larry Pilchman to approve Matthan Chatterton-Richmond for Head Winter Track Coach as submitted. The motion passed unanimously.
A motion was made by Mary Sachsse and seconded by Larry Pilchman to approve Erik Goodling for Head Swimming Coach as submitted and attached to the original meeting minutes. The motion passed unanimously.
11. Adjournment
A motion was made by John Chamberlin and seconded by Larry Pilchman to adjourn the meeting at 9:40 PM. The motion passed unanimously.
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